At the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth and her sisters waited with their mother as Mr. Bennet led the way inside the grand home. The sweeping drive was crowded with all manner of conveyance as it seemed the whole of Hertfordshire had come to welcome the Bingleys and offer their congratulations on the engagement of Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet.
As she passed through the receiving line with Jane, Elizabeth noted the sour countenance of Miss Bingley. It was apparent she wished to be in London rather than at her brother’s side as mistress of his home.
Mr. Bingley hastily took Jane’s hand and escorted her into the ballroom leaving his sisters to welcome their remaining guests. Elizabeth allowed a twinge of pity for those coming behind as they would only be greeted by the unhappy faces of Mr. Bingley’s sisters instead of his welcoming smile. Once Jane became the mistress of Netherfield, they would throw a party without the sulking presence of the Bingley sisters and truly welcome their neighbors.
Why the sisters were so displeased with the fact their brother had chosen Jane was evident but Elizabeth thought they must be the worst sort of ladies to object to one so fair as Jane. While the Bingley fortune made in trade might be greater than that of the Bennet family, Elizabeth and her sisters were gentlewomen and in fact above the Bingleys in society’s estimation.
Moving away from Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst to the ballroom, Elizabeth caught her breath at the beauty and romance of the setting. There were candles lit around the room and a fire dancing merrily in the great fireplace. Though Mr. Bingley’s sisters were against his marriage, they had spared no expense to celebrate the engagement.
The chill of the evening air did not advance into the ballroom from the open front doors and for that Elizabeth was most grateful. She had thought that cooler weather might never grace the countryside but it had arrived overnight. The panes of the windows in her bedroom had been frosted when she awoke that morning.
Surreptitiously, Elizabeth surveyed the crowd for any sign of Mr. Darcy. It was her dearest wish to dance with him but Mr. Collins had asked for the first dance the evening before at dinner. He had not spoken with her father as he had threatened on their walk home from Meryton but she knew his demand was intended to separate her from Mr. Darcy.
Her dear friend Charlotte Lucas waved as their eyes met and Elizabeth’s face lit up with delight. She pushed away the troublesome thoughts of her cousin and lifted her skirts to make her way quickly across the polished marble floor so they might gossip.
Before she might reach her friend, Mr. Darcy appeared and Elizabeth attempted to slow her pace. The marble floor conspired against her and her feet slid dangerously in her fancy slippers. Soon, she was held in Mr. Darcy’s warm embrace and her skirts fell from her hands.
The gentle swishing sound of the gossamer folds as they fell covered her slight gasp and she recovered her equilibrium. “Please forgive me for I had not thought to collide with Mr. Bingley’s guests this evening.”
Mr. Darcy’s smile widened at her words and he was struck by her vibrant beauty. Her fine eyes were shining and held much amusement at their current situation. Her soft pink lips were drawn up in a teasing smile to match her words. Before he might reply, the strains of the musicians warming up before the ball drifted over the crowd.
Mr. Collins popped up beside the couple and hissed at Elizabeth before placing a hand on her arm and pulling her away from Mr. Darcy. “Cousin Elizabeth come away this instant!”
His voice reminded Elizabeth of the warning sibilations of a snake coiled in the grass before it struck its victim. Her skin crawled at the thought of it and she removed her arm from his grasp and returned his venom. “Mr. Collins, you must not cause a stir at Jane’s engagement ball. I shall dance the first dance with you to keep the peace but I will not tolerate being so handled when I have done nothing to warrant such coarse abuse.”
Mr. Darcy moved to stand beside Elizabeth and leveled a fearsome stare in Mr. Collins’s direction. “Miss Elizabeth, shall I have him removed?”
Mr. Collins gasped audibly and his mouth gaped in shock. Several seconds passed before he regained his composure. “Mr. Darcy, sir, being the protector of my cousin’s honor is my solemn duty. I would not have gossip and conjecture stain her reputation. As I know you were only being kind to keep her from falling before the room, I would not blame you for your actions. However, a moment too long in the arms of a handsome gentleman may lead to unfortunate misunderstandings amongst our neighbors.”
Mr. Collins was pleased with his speech and did not immediately note that Mr. Darcy had again offered his arm to Elizabeth. As the pair walked away from him, he saw the way the man inclined his head as he spoke with her and the way his cousin moved closer to Mr. Darcy’s side.
With horror, he suddenly understood that Mr. Darcy was far more interested in his cousin than he ought to be as he was engaged to someone else. It could not be! Mr. Darcy was promised to Miss de Bourgh and an affiliation with Elizabeth Bennet would not be borne.
As he scurried along behind them, he thought he must somehow keep the couple apart for more than just the first dance and secure his own future at Rosings. Lady Catherine had given him the living at Hunsford and she might remove him if angered. She was wealthy and carried enough influence to have the bishop do her bidding. He could not allow his cousin to ruin his life.
He paused in his pursuit as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy paused before a young lady who must be a friend of the Bennet sisters. Elizabeth embraced the young woman and the trio continued in conversation.
Mr. Collins’s scheming was interrupted by his cousin Mary Bennet. “Mr. Collins, there you are. I know you wish to dance the first dance with Lizzy but may we dance the second?”
Her tone was sweet and timid and Mr. Collins admired the retiring beauty before him. She was not classically beautiful as her sister Jane nor did she glow with the vibrance of her sister Elizabeth, but Mary Bennet was lovely to him in a way that sent his heart racing now whenever she was near.
Her dark curls and porcelain skin emphasized her ruby lips and he hardly noticed that her nose was a tiny bit too long. It was her eyes that held him in thrall. They were a lovely dark green that changed with the light and made him feel as though he was the most important man. Never had a lady held him in such esteem and he was not a complete fool, not so much as everyone thought.
Offering his arm, he drew closer to Mary and graced her with a charming smile. “My dear, of course you may have the second dance and the third if you wish.”
Mary was delighted by this news and dropped her gaze as color filled her cheeks. She was not accustomed to the attentions of a man. In a moment, she made an excuse to step away and see that her younger sisters were behaving so that she might catch her breath before saying something foolish.
Mr. Collins watched her go but his attention was drawn away by the laughter of his cousin Elizabeth. Again, she was standing much too close to Mr. Darcy though they were in the company of her friend and in full view of the guests gathered for the ball.
He moved to join them as music filled the air. Elizabeth could not refuse to dance with him and he would again impress upon her the importance of appearances.
Mr. Darcy offered his arm to the lady they had been speaking with at length and followed Mr. Collins and Elizabeth to the dance floor. Chagrined by the fact that his cousin gave all her attention to Mr. Darcy as the dance commenced, Mr. Collins grew angrier by the second.
His face was a bright red by the time the dance ended and he was caught by Miss Mary before he might have a word with Miss Elizabeth.
The next dance began and he was most incensed to find Mr. Darcy as his cousin’s partner for the set. A terrible thought occurred to him in his anger and his heart clenched. The idea of marrying Elizabeth instead of dear Mary was the answer to his dilemma! Though it pained him greatly, he knew he must sacrifice his desires and secure his position at Hunsford.
It was a bitter moment that rankled him to his soul but he turned his attention to Mary so that he might enjoy the last romantic moment he might have with her before laying his plan to snare her sister.